News and views from Secular Society and its members, with comments on other events of wider interest to secularists. Views expressed here are those of the authors, and are not necessarily endorsed by the society unless this is expressly stated. We also have a quarterly (almost) journal - the Leicester Secularist.

20 November 2015

Open Letter to Keith Vaz regarding blasphemy law for the UK

Dear Mr Vaz,

I write to express deep disappointment at your support for blasphemy laws to be re-introduced to the UK.

I write this as an open letter to encourage clarity on the matter.

It is outrageous that someone, as senior within the Labour party as
yourself, would put forward the outdated, regressive, and oppressive
concept that faith and belief need legal protection. They do not. These
ideas must be subject to as rigorous questioning, criticism, ridicule
and offensive comment, as any other idea.

Just because someone
sincerely believes an idea does not give the person nor the idea any
special privilege in being immune from normal human interaction, even if
offensive criticism is offered. The line we draw, and it is a
reasonable one, is that we do not permit the incitement of hatred nor
violence. Everything else must remain within the law.

It is the
duty of everyone to be prepared to take offence on the chin rather than
demand special privilege to avoid facing unpleasant truths about their
cherished beliefs. To give religious ideas special protection would be
to give succour to the despicable regimes around the world who are happy
to murder blasphemers. Take a look at Pakistan where even to allege
that someone has blasphemed is enough to bring out the vigilante death
squads. Why would you want to take our legal system in that direction or
in the direction of Saudi Arabia where it is a terrorist offence to not
believe in Allah?

I sincerely hope that you will reconsider
your position and make it clear that a blasphemy law is not appropriate
for this liberal democracy of ours.